The case was adjourned until May 15, this year, by Resident Magistrate Bingi Mashabala because Resident Magistrate Walialwande Lema, who was supposed to preside at the case was attending a seminar.

Makunga is charged alone with printing the seditious article, while Kibanda and Miwgamba are charged for publishing a seditious article in the tabloid.

The accused, who are now charged under section 32(1)(a) of the Newspapers Act (as amended 2002) but before were charged under section 46(b), 55(10)(a) and 35 of the Penal Code (as amended in 2002).

According to the public prosecutor, Kibanda and Mwigamba allegedly published in Tanzania Daima tabloid (Issue No. 2553 of November 30, 2011) under a headline ‘Waraka maalum kwa askari wote’ (meaning “a special letter to all security forces”) intended to cause disaffection against the lawful authority through the ‘Kalamu ya Mwigamba’ column.